It’s open!

Protected bike lanes and signal upgrades in downtown Seattle improve safety for everyone, while at the same time connecting the Center City Bike Network. Completing the 2nd Avenue PBL between Pike Street and Denny Way complements the city’s ongoing mobility improvements and enhances safety for cyclists and pedestrians – and takes the guess work away for drivers by providing designated travel lanes and clear signals. Visit the project website for features details.

In case you’re wondering. Here’s what the PBL cross section looked like before:

PBL cross section (before).

And here’s what it looks like today:

PBL cross section (after).

Putting on our makeup.

Major construction is done, but you may continue to see crews completing some final cosmetic details. This work will be minimal but might require short, intermittent bike lane closures so please follow posted signs. In spring, we’ll finish up permanent striping at the crosswalks and stop bars, which needs dry warmer weather.

Look out for each other.

Whether you’re riding a bike, driving, or walking, here’s how to navigate the new 2nd Ave:

One more glamour shot of the new 2nd Ave PBL!

Walking

Follow pedestrian signals.

Look both ways when crossing bike lanes.

Cycling

Follow bike signals.

Yield to people walking in crosswalks.

Driving

Follow traffic signals.

Park next to bike lane.

Watch this short clip from our very own Dongho Chang, City Traffic Engineer, who shares about bicycle and transit markings to help you navigate the city.

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And remember! Look out for other travelers when making turns across the bike lane at driveways and intersections. Always think Vision Zero!

Four exciting and pivotal downtown street upgrade projects are in progress, or about to get started, in and around Pioneer Square. The projects are all part of a comprehensive transportation vision for downtown Seattle that prioritizes efficiency for the multifaceted lifestyle in our energized city core.

The Post Alley project, replacing worn out wooden subsurface material with new basic sidewalk and roadway infrastructure between Columbia St. and Marion St. on Post Ave, is about bringing basic safety for pedestrians and cars to this historic cultural district.

The Center City Connector, a federally-backed project that will serve downtown’s 265,000 workers, 70,000 residents, and 100,000 daily visitors with streetcar service every five minutes for in-city stops, will cross Columbia on its way to linking with the First Hill Streetcar five blocks south at S. Jackson St.

The sweeping $688 million Waterfront Seattle Program, led by the City’s Office of the Waterfront, will replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a pedestrian-friendly, multi-modal, state-of-the-art waterfront boulevard. The Waterfront Program, which includes improvements along many key east-west connection streets from the Stadium District to Belltown, will prioritize transit along Columbia St. and along Alaskan Way. This future work will be under construction in 2019 once the Alaskan Way Viaduct is demolished, and will complete the City’s transit priority improvements along Columbia from 1st Ave to 3rd Ave.

This is all important work, but with much of the targeted construction converging in the heart of downtown and Pioneer Square, we’re hyper aware that the work will disrupt the current traffic flow downtown. While the final blueprint will create a seamless transportation network for all, doing the paving, repairing, bulldozing, and building to make it happen may present problems downtown. To ease the pain, we’re sequencing these four complementary projects in a way that makes most sense for commuters, residents and visitors, and also for the efficiency of the project construction timelines themselves. We are also coordinating with other projects within the right-of-way in the downtown core.

Coordination Schedule:

Crews started with the Post Alley work in early October and are expected to finish in late December. The City is expected to start the two-way Columbia work in late November, with repaving, signage, and striping complete in mid-2018. Meanwhile, the first phase of the Center City Connector project began in October and is planned to wrap up in Pioneer Square by the end of 2018. The bulk of the Waterfront work won’t begin until 2019, with the exception of early utility work along the waterfront planned for 2018.

By overlaying project work schedules, SDOT hopes to minimize the inconvenience while also prioritizing the interplay between construction specifics that moves the projects along the quickest.

Public safety is our top priority at SDOT. So, we had to close the northbound right lane of 4th Avenue South over the Argo bridge (just north of S Dawson St to just south of Costco) for possibly up to twelve months. The bridge has some cracking and needs to be repaired. While it’s safe to travel on, we wanted to reduce the load on the outer edges of the bridge deck, which is why we needed to close that lane.

During this time, two lanes of southbound traffic are open, but large trucks will have to use the center lane when crossing the bridge. People walking and biking will still be able to use the sidewalk on the west side of the bridge.

Routine inspection of the Argo bridge found that more reinforcement is needed of the cantilevered ends of the main span piers. When it’s all fixed, the northbound curb (right) lane will be reopened but oversized trucks won’t be allowed on the bridge.

A temporary variable message sign will let northbound drivers know about the traffic change on 4th Ave S during the initial phase of the lane closure.

We know this lane closure will cause delays for regular users of this route, but this short-term inconvenience will be outweighed by the much longer-term benefit: a stable, rehabilitated bridge for all users. We want to make sure everything is safe so we can maintain mobility through the city. As always, public safety is our top priority.

Did you miss the 23rd Avenue Corridor Improvements Project open house last week? No worries! You can still view the open house materials and share your feedback with us through our online open house until Tuesday, October 17. Visit the site to learn more about upcoming Phase 2 construction from S Jackson Street to Rainier Avenue S, expected to begin as soon as April 2018.

We’re listening and we want to hear from you. We understand the importance of coordinating with other agencies and their projects adjacent to 23rd Avenue S and in the surrounding area. To learn more about these projects including the Sound Transit Judkins Park Station, Community House, and Vulcan explore the Coordination page of our online open house.

At the open house, we shared how we’ve incorporated community feedback into the final project design and information about priority hire. Priority hire will require the Phase 2 construction contractor to complete a percentage of project hours with apprentice and journey level workers from economically distressed zip codes. The program also includes goals for the construction contractor to employ women and people of color for a percentage of project hours.

Our goal is to enhance safety and mobility for people who walk, drive, and take transit, as well as completing important infrastructure improvements. North of S Holgate Street, 23rd Avenue S will be modified from two lanes in each direction to one wider lane in each direction, with a center turn lane. This configuration is in current use on 23rd Avenue from S Jackson Street to E Madison Street, part of Phase 1 construction.

We’ll share more specifics about the construction schedule and expected impacts in early 2018 at an open house, after a contractor has been selected. For more information or to request a project briefing, please email 23rdAveCorridor@seattle.gov or call 206-727-8857.

Seattle’s first downtown PBL opened in 2014 on 2nd Ave between Pike Street and Yesler Way.

Starting Monday, September 18, crews will start working to install the first section of new protected bike lane (PBL) on 2nd Ave between Blanchard and Pike streets. For about 2 weeks, they’ll be grinding and repaving the east side of the street to make way for a 2-way PBL from Blanchard to Pike (the PBL from Denny Way to Blanchard St will be installed in October).

Before and after pictures of 2nd Ave below. One thing: only southbound bicyclists will be able to use the new PBL until we can get traffic signals upgraded later this year.

You’re invited to check out the design for the 23rd Avenue Corridor Improvements Project and participate in an online open house through Friday, July 28! Learn more about the City’s plans to improve 23rd Ave S from S Jackson St to Rainier Ave S, ask questions, and share your feedback about the second phase of the project.

Project staff connecting with the community at an open house July 19.

Phase 2 of the project includes a variety of improvements to help enhance safety and mobility for people who walk, drive, and take transit, as well as important infrastructure improvements.

North of S Holgate St, 23rd Ave S will be modified from two lanes in each direction to one wider lane in each direction with a center turn lane. This configuration is also in place on 23rd Ave from S Jackson St to E Madison St as a result of Phase 1 construction.

The project also includes proposed improvements for people using the intersection at 23rd Ave S and Rainier Ave S and S Hill St. The end result will be safer and less complicated pedestrian crossings and reduced potential for collisions. The second phase of construction is expected to begin as early as the first quarter of 2018 and last approximately one year.

South Lander St is an essential east-west connection in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood. Every day, the street serves over 13,000 vehicles, 1,400 pedestrians, 100 bicyclists, and needs to be closed over 100 times per day for train crossings. This active train crossing causes frequent traffic delays and poses safety risks, especially to pedestrians and cyclists. To improve local traffic circulation, rail operations, and safety, SDOT will build a bridge over the railroad tracks on S Lander St between 1st Ave S and 4th Ave S.

Rendering of the completed S Lander St bridge.

On Thursday, March 30, about 60 people from the community, local businesses, and property owners joined us in SODO at an open house to hear the latest on the bridge’s design, which has been updated thanks to feedback from our last open house in September 2016. Design is nearly complete, with construction planned to begin in early 2018. During the two years of construction, S Lander St will be closed to traffic, but access will be maintained for people walking and riding bicycles.

People at the open house learned about the updated project timeline, bridge design, and how local access will be maintained while the bridge is built. We received great feedback about the architectural features of the bridge, plans for new landscaping, and nearby businesses expressed the importance of ensuring parking and local access during construction.

Work to improve 2nd Ave for people walking, biking, and driving has begun – this includes upgrading traffic signals and extending the 2-way protected bike lane along 2nd Ave from Pike St to Denny Way!

Three new signals and crossings at Clay, Cedar, and Vine streets along with new landscaping and lighting will improve walkability.

For those who are biking, a bike lane extension on 2nd Ave will create a direct, intuitive north/south route through downtown.

Drivers can anticipate more separation between modes through individual signal phases and signal timing improvements, which will move people more efficiently.

What will construction be like?

Preparing to replace traffic signals (and add new ones at Clay, Cedar, and Vine) will come first, which will include trenching up side streets to connect the signals to the electrical grid. Next, crews will remove curb bulbs and install the new protected bike lane. We want to keep you up to date!

SDOT is committed to keeping you informed in a variety of ways, including:

We reopened 23rd Ave between E John and S Union Streets to two-way traffic on February 28, marking a major milestone for the first phase of the 23rd Ave Corridor Improvements Project. The first phase of the work runs along 23rd Ave between S Jackson St and E John St. The project started in the summer of 2015 and is operationally complete. Some small tasks will continue until the end of March 2017.

Phase I improvements at the intersection of 23rd Ave & E Union St.

The purpose of the project is to improve safety and mobility for all who use 23rd Ave. As an essential arterial connecting various business, residences, and educational institutions, the area serves high volumes of pedestrians, bike riders, and transit users; about 6,000 transit riders daily!

Improvements that were made during Phase 1 included:

Modifying 23rd Ave from a 4-lane street to a 3-lane street

New pavement

Widening sidewalks to at least five feet and repairing broken and buckling sidewalks

Phase 2 which runs from S Jackson Street to Rainier Ave S is expected to begin late spring/early summer, when we will share the design and official schedule. To be kept up-to-date, you can visit the project webpage or sign up for email updates!

Maintaining Seattle’s streets is one of the most important things we do at SDOT, and we have 6 major paving projects planned for 2017 as part of our arterial Paving Program.

Arterials are the primary routes for moving people and goods through the city, as well as connecting neighborhoods, business districts, and our region. Ongoing maintenance helps avoid more expensive major repairs in the future, and keeps our community moving today.

Part of the proposed 25th Ave NE paving project

Arterial paving is supported by the voter-approved Levy to Move Seattle, which makes it possible for us to pave up to 180 lane miles of arterial streets over nine years.

You can click on the below links for more information on each project’s schedule, impact, and how to get in touch with the team.